{"id":17464,"date":"2019-09-30T15:57:56","date_gmt":"2019-09-30T13:57:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/euroviajar.com\/?p=17464"},"modified":"2023-05-03T18:45:04","modified_gmt":"2023-05-03T16:45:04","slug":"the-best-places-to-visit-in-portugal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/euroviajar.com\/en\/the-best-places-to-visit-in-portugal\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Places to Visit in Portugal: A Magical Journey from North to South"},"content":{"rendered":"

Planning the itinerary through the best places to visit in Portugal<\/strong> is a challenge. That’s because Portugal<\/a><\/strong> has an unbelievable richness of beauty, history and art even in tiny villages. You will be amazed and enchanted with how much this country has to offer.<\/p>\n

We propose an itinerary that we made during our trip, that will take you through the most iconic, historically most relevant and simply most stunning natural and cultural wonders of Portugal<\/strong>, including most of the country’s UNESCO<\/strong> monuments.<\/p>\n

The Starting Point<\/h2>\n

As there are only 3 airports in the country<\/strong>, in the North in Porto, in the centre in Lisbon, and in the South in Faro, your starting point will likely be one of those, unless you come by car from Spain. Our journey starts in the North, in one of the most iconic Portuguese cities – Porto – and leads all the way downwards to Faro in Algarve.<\/p>\n

1. Porto and its 6 Bridges<\/h2>\n
\"Porto

The view of Porto with its spectacular Luis I bridge and Ribeira district<\/p><\/div>\n

Porto is world-famous for its precious port wine, and the character of the city is strongly connected to its wine commerce. The most typical “postcard view” of Porto is the lovely historical district Ribeira (UNESCO) <\/strong>with its colourful houses, dominated by the engineering masterpiece – an impressive Luis I bridge designed by a disciple of Gustave Eiffel<\/strong>. The lively shore of Ribeira is full of bars and restaurants which all serve port wine, and traditional rabelo<\/em> boats for wine transportation are always moored nearby. On the opposite side of the Douro River you can visit 260 years old wine cellars<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Visit the cellars of the oldest port winery<\/strong>\u00a0Real Companhia Velha<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The city is famous also for its exquisite churches with fa\u00e7ades covered with azulejos<\/strong> – characteristic white-and-blue Portuguese tiles (that I’m crazy about, so I’ll come back to this topic many more times).<\/p>\n

But Porto is much more than that. It has a long and impressive cultural heritage<\/strong> and plenty of interesting landmarks to visit. It is by far one of the best places to visit in Portugal and you simply can’t miss it.<\/p>\n

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2. The Douro Valley<\/a> and its Port Wine Vineyards<\/h2>\n
\"Panoramic

Panoramic road along the Douro Valley terraced vineyards<\/p><\/div>\n

Unmissable experience. Port wine is produced exclusively in the approx. 70-km long area along the Douro River Valley, enlisted by UNESCO<\/strong>. It’s a beautiful valley with a unique landscape of hilly slopes striped with terraced vineyards<\/strong><\/a> and elegant historical estates dating even from as much as 1750s<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

There is a the Port Wine Route<\/strong>, which lets you discover the secrets of the production of this excellent wine. And then, there is the Romanesque Route<\/strong> with 14 medieval churches and other historical buildings.<\/p>\n

Read more here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Check boat trips to the Douro Valley from Porto here<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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3. Guimar\u00e3es and its Medieval Spirit<\/h2>\n
\"Splendid

Splendid Palace of the Dukes of Braganza in Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal<\/p><\/div>\n

Guimar\u00e3es has a very important place in the history of the nation – it is considered “the birthplace of Portugal”<\/strong>. That’s because the first king of Portugal – Afonso Henriques – was born here<\/strong>. Moreover, nearby was held the Battle of S\u00e3o Mamede which led to the establishment of the Kingdom of Portugal in 1139.<\/p>\n

This lovely town has a lot of character<\/strong> and an atmosphere of the time gone by. It is a beautiful place rich in history and very interesting monuments, enlisted by UNESCO. The highlights include the medieval castle, the impressive Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, and a series of wonderful churches filled with masterpieces<\/strong>: stunning azulejo walls, sculptures and paintings.<\/p>\n

One more thing that makes Guimar\u00e3es one of the best places to visit in Portugal are its cookies, famous nationwide. The local specialities include delicious sticky cookies made of pumpkin, almonds<\/strong> and walnuts – they are truly remarkable.<\/p>\n

Braga and Guimar\u00e3es Full Day Tour with Lunch from Porto<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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4. Braga and the epicentre of Portuguese Christianity<\/h2>\n
\"Perfect

Perfect harmony of the staircase leading to Bom Jesus do Monte church in Braga<\/p><\/div>\n

Braga is the Christian soul of Portugal – which means a lot in this very religious country. Here, the oldest Portuguese seat of the archbishop was established – the city served as the main centre of Christianity<\/strong> in the Iberian Peninsula till the times of the Reconquista. And even before that, in the 12th century, it was the seat of the Portuguese court.<\/p>\n

It is the third biggest city of Portugal, visibly rich and elegant<\/strong>. Its highlights, obviously, are churches – especially the stunning cathedral<\/strong> and maybe the most photogenic church on Earth<\/strong> – Bom Jesus do Monte, with its incredibly long and ornate staircase (both enlisted by UNESCO).<\/p>\n

Braga and Guimar\u00e3es Full Day Tour with Lunch from Porto<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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5. Coimbra and its impressive historical university<\/h2>\n
\"The

The historical complex of the University of Coimbra, the oldest in Portugal<\/p><\/div>\n

We found it very interesting that the townscape of Coimbra, unlike most other cities and towns, is not dominated by a castle or a cathedral, but by its huge university. It is the town’s highest, biggest and most visible monument – and its claim to fame. That’s because it is the nations’s oldest university<\/strong> (actually founded in Lisbon in 1290<\/strong>, but moved to Coimbra in 1537), and one of the oldest in the world.<\/p>\n

The university complex (enlisted by UNESCO) is very interesting; the highlight is its spectacular Baroque Johannine Library<\/strong> and the sublime university chapel with azulejos, but also the museums with old-fashioned scientific tools are great. And omnipresent students proudly wear traditional black woollen coats, adding up to the atmosphere.<\/p>\n

The town is lovely, with winding narrow cobbled lanes, medieval buildings and a stunning cathedral<\/strong>. You respire culture here – there is something sophisticated about Coimbra which puts it definitely among the best places to visit in Portugal.<\/p>\n

Coimbra: Tour from Lisbon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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6. \u00d3bidos and its fairytale streets<\/h2>\n
\"Obidos

\u00d3bidos is a typical traditional Portuguese town – and it’s one of the prettiest<\/p><\/div>\n

With all its houses kept in the palette of white lined with vivid yellow and blue<\/strong>, with charming tiled roofs and azulejo decorations on every corner, \u00d3bidos is an iconic traditional Portuguese town<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Irresistible romantic charm makes \u00d3bidos definitely one of the best places to visit in Portugal. Its narrow winding cobbled streets are filled with flowers in multitude of colours, and the dominant silhouette of the medieval castle is visible from most places. The fortified walls are walkable<\/strong>, although they don’t have any railing, which makes visiting them quite a thrilling experience!<\/p>\n

From Lisbon: Fatima, Obidos, Batalha and Nazar\u00e9 Group Tour<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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7. Tomar and its Templar Castle<\/h2>\n
\"The

The impressive round church in the Templar Castle and the Convent of Christ in Tomar, Portugal<\/p><\/div>\n

The imposing Templar Castle and the enormous Convent of Christ<\/strong> are what the small town of Tomar is known for. Mighty Templar fortress was build here in the 12th century<\/strong>. Then, the turbulent history of the Templar order led to it being dissolved and banished everywhere in Europe, however in Portugal it was in luck: it simply changed the name and slightly modified its symbol – the characteristic cross. It has become the Order of Christ and stayed here under its name. The Convent of Christ (enlisted by UNESCO) is a very huge structure with an infinite sequence of cloisters, each different architectonically<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Tomar is a typical small Portuguese town with whitewashed houses with yellow lining, cobbled streets and azulejos on many buildings.<\/p>\n

For us, however, the biggest highlight of this visit was an incredible palace in which we stayed for the night… The out-of-time noblemen residence, belonging to the Count de Ferreira<\/strong> family for 8 generations. Absolutely amazing and unique experience! You can book your room in this castle-like place here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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8. Lisbon<\/a> and its poetic atmosphere<\/h2>\n
\"Beautiful

Romantic Torre de Belem is one of Lisbon’s most famous landmarks<\/p><\/div>\n

Lisbon<\/a> <\/strong>doesn’t need an introduction. Its fame as one of the world’s most beautiful capital cities<\/strong>\u00a0has been known already for centuries. There is something very subtle about this city, poetic, melancholic like fado <\/em>music. It might be because of the traces of its glorious past<\/strong> well visible in its historical buildings. Or it might be the warm pinkish light falling upon the city around the dusk. It could be due to the crumbling azulejos covering most of its buildings. And the splendid view at its wonderful 25th April Bridge. Or maybe it’s about the city’s calm and tranquil atmosphere, so unique in a big city, in the scenic boulevards along the Tejo River in beautiful Belem<\/strong> and modern Oriente districts.<\/p>\n

The Portuguese capital has an extensive cultural offer<\/strong>, with many great museums (Azulejo Museum is a must!) and impressive monuments. And it has an irresistible charm, with its steep winding streets on its seven hills, and the breathtaking views from its <\/strong>miradouros<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>– viewpoints towards the castle, the bridge and numerous churches everywhere.<\/p>\n

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9. Cascais and its luxury coast<\/h2>\n
\"Lovely

Lovely tiled lighthouse in Cascais with historical residences<\/p><\/div>\n

Cascais is a historical – and upscale – sea resort<\/strong> close to Lisbon. It is the final and most famous part of the Lisbonese riviera (read more the riviera here<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p>\n

This bustling little town is very pretty, but even better are its immediate surroundings. In particular, the most scenic part is the walk to the lighthouse<\/strong> Farol de Santa Marta (on the photo above) and Museum Condes de Castro Guimar\u00e3es in a charming building and a park with peacocks, with lovely historical residences along the way.<\/p>\n

And then the pathway leads further, along the ocean coast, towards Boca da Inferno<\/strong> (“Hell’s Mouth”), a rock opening struck by angry waves. Still further, there are many bars and restaurants with the ocean view, leading to the next lighthouse<\/strong> – Farol da Guia. Continuing north, you arrive at the westernmost point of Europe – Cabo da Roca with its lovely lighthouse.<\/p>\n

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10. Sintra<\/a> and its magical palaces and secret gardens<\/h2>\n
\"Pena

Pena Palace in Sintra will amaze you with its intricate architecture<\/p><\/div>\n

Sintra is a place that you have to see to believe it. No words can describe how magical, mysterious and fairytale-like<\/strong> is its atmosphere, its wonderful royal and aristocratic palaces, and its huge luxurious gardens and parks full of surprising and playful buildings, faux caves and lakes and secret passages through wells, grottos and towers<\/strong>… It’s absolutely wonderful.<\/p>\n

For me, Sintra is the most beautiful town of entire Portugal<\/strong><\/a> and one of the most spectacular wordlwide – there is nothing like it, anywhere. It’s a fantasy land, build for the pleasure of the rich and mighty in the past centuries. Its extremely beautiful palaces scattered on several hills<\/strong> are full of symbolism, mystery and romantic references.<\/p>\n

The town centre is pretty, its narrow walled streets enchanting, and the Moorish castle<\/strong> on one of the hilltops is one of the most panoramic castles on Earth. All this magical town is extremely photogenic.<\/p>\n

From Lisbon: Sintra, Cascais and Cabo da Roca Coast Day Tour<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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25 Fascinating Photos of Sintra, Portugal That Will Make You Want To Go There Immediately<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n